For many years, Japan has maintained one of the world’s lowest birth rates. This is only getting worse over time, as Japan recorded fewer than 1 million births and a population decline of 300,000 people for the first time in 2016. The blame for this loss often goes to women who prioritize their careers over bearing children, but in reality, economic insecurity may lie at the root of the problem.
Although Japan’s unemployment rate sits at only 3%, Jeff Kingston, a professor of history at Temple University’s Tokyo campus, claims that 40% of the workforce has unstable and temporary jobs “with low salaries and no benefits.” Such “irregular” workers have increased by about 7.6 million since 1995, whereas those with more stable jobs have decreased by 3.8 million. Such changes to the workforce stem from the revision of Japan’s labor laws in the 1990s, which allowed for a larger number of temporary employees in the country’s industries. The trend was further accentuated during the Great Recession, when there was high pressure on companies to decrease costs through the use of irregular workers.
Ryosuke Nishida, a sociology professor at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, elaborates on how even when men want to marry, their families often disapprove until a steady job is secured. Even if the woman has a stable position, roughly 70% of Japanese women quit their jobs after their first pregnancy and rely entirely on their husband’s salary. The issue doesn’t end there; employers tend to push their employees to the limit, since they are considered lucky to have found a full-time position.
To increase the country’s birth rate, Japan has begun to constrain women’s reproductive rights. Contraception is only available to women upon approval from a doctor and at the cost of $100. Moreover, as oral contraceptives were only legalized in 1999, knowledge of the pill is limited, causing emotional stress over its use and unknown side effects.
Although abortion is legal in Japan, many women resort to it because sexual counseling and education remain limited due to their taboo nature. Additionally, many health facilities across Japan require survivors of sexual assault to get consent from the perpetrator before getting an abortion, as the country’s Maternal Health Act requires approval from both a woman’s mother and her “spouse” to get an abortion. Many doctors perceive this to include the rapist, causing further pain for survivors. Although the government specifically excludes rapists, the prevalent sexism within Japanese society often leads such health care providers to neglect exceptions. The most significant issue is that despite frustrations around limited reproductive rights, women have little to no say in the matter due to the persistence of gender inequality in Japan.
Regardless, many women’s activists in Japan continue to fight for stronger rights and challenge those in high political positions to take further steps toward equality. To start overcoming its challenges, Japan must implement stronger counseling programs for women, pursue gender parity across all levels of society, and encourage men to openly address workplace stress.
Swati Agarwal
Swati is a sophomore at University of California, San Diego, where she is studying Environmental Sciences and Theatre. Although born in India, she was raised in Tokyo, which gave her the opportunity to interact with diverse people from distinct cultures. She is passionate about writing, and hopes to inspire others by spreading awareness about social justice issues and highlighting the uniqueness of the world.